Adult film director explains why unsimulated sex scenes in movies 'aren't porn'

Leading adult film director Erika Lust has weighed in on the use of unsimulated sex scenes in mainstream film and TV.

There are more unsimulated sex scenes - where actors genuinely perform the sex act rather than simply pretend - out there than you might initially think, with Robert Pattinson being among those who have spoken out about carrying out a sex act for a film before.

Many viewers remain divided over this more 'method' approach towards sex acts on screen, but if you were to compare it to the adult film industry?

Well, the adult film industry is far more condemned for showing real sex acts enacted on camera - but what makes unsimulated sex scenes any different to some porn videos?

Leading adult film director and creator Erika Lust - who recently celebrated 20 years of making adult films after the release of her first feature film The Good Girl in 2004 - told UNILAD that if you 'don't see the explicit sex' then it's 'not porn'.

"The idea with porn is it's graphic, you can see it," Lust notes.

So, what happens when an actor does perform an actual sex act rather than just acting it out - for example, like Pattinson masturbating on camera - and it's explicit for viewers to see?

Well, Erika still maintains this is still different from the content created by directors, producers, creators and performers in the adult film industry.

But why?

2006's 'Shortbus' featured an unsimulated sex scene (ThinkFilm)

Lust tells UNILAD: "What happens with film or independent film etc when there's some sort of sexual simulation or no simulation is that it's not made to excite you - somehow.

"The goal is not porn, it's not to turn you on - maybe you get turned on by watching it but it's kind of more than that.

"And for me, I think it's very exciting when directors dare to throw sex into the evolution of a character.

"Because I do think that sex is very interesting, and that it's a huge part of, of who we are and how we identify and I am myself very interested in watching that and when performers dare to take on such roles."

Lust further resolves: "I think the biggest difference there is really... Is the film made for you to enjoy yourself watching it, or is it made as kind of a film to watch where it could be a part [of it], but that's not the main goal of the whole thing?"

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